BNP doesn't work for people's welfare: HPM Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina yesterday said there is no comparison between her party and the BNP.

"The BNP doesn't want people's welfare. They burnt people alive and played ducks and drakes with their fate. But, the AL is a party of this soil and its people and it works for countrymen. So, no comparison can be drawn between the AL and the BNP," she said.

The premier was addressing a grand rally after inaugurating 43 development schemes and laying foundation stones of five others involving Tk 329 crore by unveiling a plaque at the Talimpur Telihati High School ground in Sadullapur union in Kotalipara.

She said people formed the AL for achieving their rights and through struggle, while the BNP was formed illegally by military dictator Zia who grabbed state power unlawfully after breaching country's constitution.

Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman were made the BNP's leaders despite both of them are convicted, she said, adding, "The BNP's organogram even doesn't allow making leader of any convicted person. But, both Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman are convicted."

The premier posed a question that whether the BNP doesn't get any person, who is not convicted, to make its leader, adding Tarique Rahman was convicted in August 21, 2004 grenade attack, 10-truck arms haul and graft cases.

"The BNP itself doesn't maintain its party's constitution, law and rules. It is not right to compare the AL with the BNP. Some people are comparing the AL with the BNP, saying, both are two big political parties. They said two big parties, but, they are wrong," she added.

Referring to the 2008 election, in which, the BNP led 20-party alliance got only 30 seats out of 300 while the AL-led grand alliance secured the rest of the seats, she said, "So, how are the two parties the same."

The premier said the country had become a haven of militancy, terrorism and corruption during the BNP government's tenure as grenade attacks took place and 500 bombs were exploded across the country in a day and Bangladesh became five times champion in corruption.

"They gave nothing to the people rather looted the public money and laundered those abroad. But, whenever the Awami League comes to power, the people of the country get something and their fate changes," she said.

AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and its Presidium Member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, among others, spoke at the rally organised by the Kotalipara Upazila Awami League.